Ben Mbala approached by NBA scouts at Fiba Afrobasket but says his focus is on UAAP stint with La Salle

Ben Mbala led Cameroon to a quarterfinal finish in Fiba Afrobasket asn was the second leading scorer in the preliminaries behind former NBA player Ike Diogu of Nigeria. Photo from fiba.com

BEN Mbala said NBA scouts approached him while on international duty for Cameroon in the FIba Afrobasket but said his commitment is still with La Salle in the UAAP.

"Like I told everyone, my focus is on the UAAP and finishing with the team. That's the only thing I have in my mind right now."

Mbala refused to mention which NBA teams the scouts were working for.

"I would like it to be low key right now," said Mbala, who missed two games for La Salle when he suited up for Cameroon in the Fiba AfroBasket.

Mbala looks to be in a good position to pursue an NBA career after leading Cameroon to a quarterfinal finish in Fiba Afrobasket. He was the second leading scorer in the preliminaries behind former NBA player Ike Diogu of Nigeria.

The Philadelphia 76ers have a Cameroonian player in Joel Embiid, the Houston Rockets have Luc Mbah a Moute and the Toronto Raptors have Pascal Siakam.

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Mbala, who returned to the UAAP on Wednesday to post a league career-high 32 points and added 10 rebounds and four blocks in a win over Adamson, said he is open to all options outside college basketball but he will look into those after he is finished playing in the UAAP.

Mbala has at least this season to play basketball in the UAAP although there are talks that he is still eligible to play for La Salle next season.

"But as a basketball player, you also have to check all your options, see what's coming... If ever there are offers (pro), I will look at them but I can't take any decisions right now because I'm so committed to La Salle and that's my main priorities right now," Mbala said.